Mike Gallagher wrote an explosive article in the Albuquerque Journal yesterday, about the firing of U.S. Attorney, David Iglesias.
Apparently Senator Domenici, (St. Pete, as he is known in New Mexico) had long been unhappy with Iglesias’ performance. Originially serving as Iglesias mentor, Domenici became disenchanted with him because Iglesias was not prosecuting enough public corruption cases and was concentrating, instead on illegal immigration. There is no doubt that there is a desert full of corruption in NM and there is a legitimate possibility that Iglesias could have done more to prosecute it. Although, I doubt Domenici was interested in any Republican corruption.
Domenici was apparently so upset about Iglesias not going after Democrats that he tried, more than once, to kick Iglesias up the ladder in to a Washington-based position in the Justice Department. Iglesias preferred to remain in New Mexico, unaware that the offered promotions were a sign of dissatisfaction with his job performance.
In addition to the well-documented phone call that Domenici made to Iglesias prior to his firing – and prior to the 2006 election, Domenici also talked to Alberto Gonzales about firing Iglesias. Gonzales reportedly refused and told Domenici the he would do so only on the orders of the President.
Domenici wasn’t satisfied and, according to the article:
At some point after the election last Nov. 6, Domenici called Bush’s senior political adviser, Karl Rove, and told him he wanted Iglesias out and asked Rove to take his request directly to the president.
Domenici and Bush subsequently had a telephone conversation about the issue.
The hearings this week are bound to prove interesting – especially if the truth somehow happens to come out. It will also be interesting to see if Alberto falls on his sword.
